2013:
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A YEAR IN REVIEW
013 was a critical year for the U.S. Sportsmen’s
Alliance (USSA) and U.S. Sportsmen’s Alliance
Foundation (USSAF). While the organizations
celebrated their 35th anniversary last year, our
staff was working coast to coast on issues in state
legislatures, the halls of Congress, in the courts and
at the ballot box.
At the state level, we crossed a tremendous milestone
in 2013 as the one millionth Apprentice Hunter took
to the fields as a result of the Families Afield program.
Families Afield, a program of the U.S. Sportsmen’s
Alliance, the National Shooting Sports Foundation
and the National Wild Turkey Federation, seeks to
reduce and remove arbitrary barriers to getting the
next generation of hunters into our sport.
Management (BLM) and U.S. Forest Service lands
(USFS). The bill would ensure access by establishing
in law that BLM and USFS properties are open to
these pursuits unless specific steps are taken to
close those lands for necessary, scientific reasons.
If passed, “Open Until Closed” would block many of
the potential lawsuits that are aimed at closing public
land to American sportsmen and women.
2013 was also a busy year in the litigation arena as the
fight over wolves continued to be at the forefront of
USSAF’s legal work. The Foundation and our partners
have been fighting a lawsuit in Wisconsin that
sought to eliminate the state’s wolf hunting season
using dogs. Despite the judge ruling in our favor in
January, the plaintiffs have appealed the ruling and
the Foundation is working overtime to defend the
The hallmark of the program—the Apprentice appeal.
Hunting license—allows new hunters to try hunting
under the watchful eye of an experienced mentor At that same time, the Humane Society of the United
prior to completing hunter education. Along with States and others filed a lawsuit in February against
the National Rifle Association and the Congressional the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to overturn the
Sportsmen’s Foundation, Families Afield bills have delisting of the Western Great Lakes region wolves
been passed in 35 states.
from the federal Endangered Species Act (ESA).
Despite greatly exceeding population recovery goals,
In Congress, our federal affairs team worked hard the lawsuit would unnecessarily return wolves in the
to promote legislation that would ensure access region to federal protection and prohibit state wildlife
to public lands for generations to come. Known as agencies from managing them. USSAF and our
“Open Until Closed,” this language would establish partners have intervened in the case and are working
that hunting, fishing and recreational shooting are hard to ensure that the wolves in the Western Great
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legitimate and important activities on Bureau of Land Lakes remain delisted.
LEVEL, WE CROSSED A TREMENDOUS
Sportsmen’s Monthly January 2014
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